Water heater



Jan. 14, 1930.

WATER HEATER Filed Oct. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-sheaf 1 Lil J. J. BYRNES 1,743,188

J. J. BYRNES Jan. 14, 1930.

WATER HEATER Filed Oct. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 JOHN J. BYRNES, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS WATER HEATER Application filed October 15, 1826. Serial No. 141,764.

My invention pertains to certain novel, structural, and functional betterments in heaters and relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to water-heaters, especially feedwater heaters for boilers.

One of the leading aims and objects of the invention is the provision of a. structure of this character which will be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and which will possess greater eiiiciency than has heretofore been usual in appliances of this type.

A further salient characteristic of the new construction is the fact that it is composed of relatively few parts which are unlikely to become damaged or injured in service and some or all of which can be readily replaced if needed.

In order that those trained and skilled in this art may have a full and complete understanding of the invention and the manner in which the'above-stated and other objects are attained, in the accompanying drawings, a

present,'des1rable and preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in de tail, and, for the sake of clearness and simplicity, like reference characters have been applied to the same parts throughout the several views.

In these drawings:

' Figure 1 is a substantially-central, vertical section through the heater with certain parts shown partly or wholly in elevation;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectionon line 22 of Figure 1 showing the wire-mesh member' Figure?) is a top plan view of the heater;

Figure4v s a bottom plan view of the appliance;

Figure section through the top portion of the structure, the outer shell being omitted; and

Figure 6 is a bottom plan View of that portion of the construction shown in Figure 5.

Referring to these drawings, it will be perceived that the improved and novel appliance includes an upright, cylindrical, sheet-metalshell or tank 10 supported in any approved manner, not shown, such container having in it a vertically-disposed, centrallyarranged stand-pipe 11, its openv upper end 5 is an enlarged, central, vertical extending almost to the dished top -wall of the tank and connected at its lower end through the similar bottom-wall of the receptacle to an overflow pipe 12 open to the atmosphere, whereby it is impossible to accumulate a substantial pressure in the tank provided the water supply is low and an excessive steam pressure occurs.

lhe steam, that is to say, the heating medium which becomes condensed upon sur rendering or transferring its heat to the water, the temperature of which is to be raised, enters the tank through a pipe 13 and an appropriately-located hole in the side-wall of the receptacle, a barrier or baflie 14 being positioned inside of the container in the path of flow of the entering steam to assure its proper and efficient distribution throughout the chamber.

A horizontal, flat, apertured ring-plate 15 is supported or suspended in any convenient manner a suitable distance below andfrom the top wall of the tank by a plurality of straps or bars 16, 16, secured thereto and to the top wall of the receptacle as indicated in Figure 1, and hung from and below this plate by means of angle-brackets 17, 17, there is an annular trough-member18 which at certain points is enlarged laterally both inwardly and outwardly'as at 19, such trough or channel member being disposed in a .horizon-. tal plane, as is clearly illustrated, with a suitable space between the top edges of the part 18 and the ring-plate 15 overhead.

Above the trough at such plurality of enlargements, plate 15 is apertured, as at 21, for the accommodation of angular funnels 22 mounted on the top of the plat-e'by appropriately-shaped brackets 23, 23 andhaving bent lower nozzles or discharge portions .24., 24 projecting down into the roundtrough and all aimed in the same annular course, so that the streams of water issuing from them will flow in a single or unitary direction.

In the present instance, there are four such combined funnels and nozzles arranged to extend down through the holes in the platel5 and disposed degrees apart around the latter, as is clearly shown. g

A corresponding number of water-inlet pipes 25 are connected through the top-wall of the tank and they are positioned to discharge their water into the funnels 22, 22 through which it flows horizontally into the trough in a plurality of streams.

Inasmuch as all of the several nozzles are disposed in the same direction, objectionable eddies in the water in the trough are avoided or eliminated and since the trough member is enlarged or expanded at its points of receipt of the water streams, there is no danger of eX- cessive local overflow at these places.

Coinciding with the center of the rounded bottom of the trough member there is a ring 26 supported by spaced, oppositely-directed ears 27 and 28 secured, as by riveting, to the under face of the trough or channel element.

Such ring is used to carry a plurality of upright, long, metal frames 29, 29 each of which is covered with a wire-mesh fabric 81, similar in design tothat used for chicken coops, the several sections of which form a complete cylinder located directly beneath the trough, and, in order that the lower parts of such sec tions may be maintained and supported with certainty. in correct position, spacers 32, 32, Figures 1 and 2, are interposed between the central stand-pipe and the metal fabric units, being fastened at their opposite ends to the stand-pipe and to'the fabric frames, as for instance, by the employment of appropriate rivets or bolts.

The metal fabric 31 should be made of a material of such size and formation as to efliciently erform the intended function. The E ottom wall of the tank is supplied with one or more discharge pipes 33 fitted with bonnets 34 over their entrances inside of the tank, whereby to protect their mouths.

The appliance as described operates practically as follows The water to be heated flows into the tank through the several pipes 25 and is delivered by them into the corresponding funnels22 from which it is discharged substantially horizontally through the nozzles 24 into-the trough and over the opposite inner and outer side walls of which it overflows practically V uniformly owing to its travel in the trough in an annular path, the trough enlargements at the nozzles and the top supporting plate preventing splashing, as will be readily understood.

Thus the water flows continuously down the wire-mesh reticular'or retiform cylinder as a thin, cylindrical, water film'and in this condition it encounters, or is subjected to, the

action ofthesteam which quickly, effectively and eificiently heats it because of its extensive but attenuated condition and the steam is condensed, the heated water passing out the bot tom of-the tank through the one or more delivery pipes.

' Although this structure has been described plurality as a water-heater, it is obvious that it could be used to advantage as a steam condenser.

One particular point with respect to this construction to be observed isthat the wire mesh fabric in cylinder form constitutes an effective means for supporting the downwardly-flowing, cylindrical, thin layer of water in such a way that unusual efliciency in the heating of the water is obtained.

Supplemental features of construction not shown or described may be addedto or made a part of the appliance presented, as will be obvious, and these it has not been deemed necessary to depict or describe.

Many minor mechanical changes may be incorporated in the new structure without departure from the heart and essence ofthe water to said trough in a substantially horizontal direction at a plurality of points and from which trough the water overflows, a reticular member corresponding to the shape of said trough and below the latter and down which the overflowing water travels in a thin film, means to admit steam to said tank, and means to deliver the heated water from the tan r.

the combination of a tank, stantially-horizontal trough in said tank, means to deliver water to said trough in the same substantially-horizontal direction and at a plurality ofv points and from which trough the water overflows, said trough hav.

ing enlargements at the points of reception of the water, a reticular member below and corresponding to the shapeof said trough and down which the overflowing water travels in a thin film, means to admit steam to the tank, and means to deliver the heated water from the. tank. I

3. In a structure of the character described,

the combinationof a tank,'an endless sub stantially horizontal trough in saidtank, means to deliver water to said trough at a of points and from which trough the water overflows, said trough having enlargements at the points of reception of such.

water, a wire-mesh member below and corresponding to the shape of said trough and receiving the overflowing water directly solely by gravity from said trough and down which member the water travels in a thin film, means to admit steam to the tank, and means to deliver the heated water from the tan I.

4. In a structure of the character described, the combination of a tank, atrough in said 2. In a structure of the character described, 1

an annular, subtank, means to deliver water into said trough from which it overflows, an open-top wiremesh member below and corresponding to the shape of said trough and positioned to receive the overflowing water on both its inner and outer surfaces directly solely by gravity from said trough and down which member the water travels in a thin film leaving a solid deposit of scale on said wire-mesh member, means to admit steam to the tank and means to deliver the heated water from the tank, the flexibility of said wire-mesh member facilitating the removal of accumulated scale thereon.

5. In a structure of the character described, the combination of a tank, an endless horizontal trough in said tank, means to deliver water into said trough at a plurality of points and from which trough the water overflows from. its opposite sides, an open-top wiremesh member below and corresponding substantially to the shape of said trough and positioned to receive the overflowing water on both its inner and outer surfaces directly solely by gravity from said trough and down which member the water travels in a thin flhn leaving a solid deposit of scale on said wire-mesh member, means to admit steam to the tank and means to deliver the heated Water from the tank, the flexibility of said wire-mesh member facilitating the removal of accumulated scale thereon.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y JOHN J. BYRNES. 

